This past Sunday I went to watch Lana play Flippa Ball. When I arrived I recognized the mother on the opposing team and we got to talking. The opposition was co-ed, and according to this mother they had some pretty strong players on their team. This got me thinking that this game might be a blowout.

It had been a couple weeks since I had seen Lana play. She was sick the previous week and I had not attended the game prior to that. Well holy camoly! As soon as the game started I could not believe my eyes. Lana was playing the forward position along with another, stronger girl. Well, when this little girl passed the ball to my daughter and Lana CAUGHT IT with one hand and then proceeded to throw it at the goal, I could not believe my eyes. My daughter catch a ball? With one hand? UNBELIEVABLE! Although she missed that shot, I was still so excited that I texted her father.

I know the quality of the shot is horrible, but I am still blown away looking at this picture of my daughter. Dare I say, she looks like an athlete?

Well the next shot came & I thought I’d try to get a picture with my good camera. I missed her first ever GOAL, but I got this picture of the goalie throwing HER ball out & if you look closely, you can see my daughter beaming. I was so excited I almost screamed out Go Team Portugal! (Long story there, but we ask her which nation she’ll swim for in the Olympics. She always says America, but I think she should swim for Portugal. She’d be guaranteed a spot on the team.)

Lana’s team did lose the game 3:1, but who cares, we had cause for celebrating, which we did. After the game she told me that now she understands what her friend TW feels like after a game & Lana liked the feeling.

Although I was extremely proud of Lana, I did need to thank her coaches. These two women, a mother and a teacher who volunteer year round, gave my daughter a chance. They played her in a variety of positions whether they thought she’d play well or not. They gave her a chance to grow and grow she did. They too have something to be proud of.